Protohermes decemmaculatus Walker

Protohermes decemmaculatus (Walker)

(Figs. 3, 19–25)

Hermes decemmaculatus Walker, 1860:180. Type locality: Unknown.

Diagnosis. In appearance, this species is characterized by the head with a pair of black markings, the pronotum with two pairs of black longitudinal markings, and the forewings without pale round markings at distal ⅓. Considering the male genitalia of P. decemmaculatus, the ninth sternum is shallowly incised posteriorly, leaving a pair of short subtriangular posterolateral lobes.

Description. Male. Body length 22–27 mm; forewing length 37–39 mm, hindwing length 32–35 mm.

Head (Fig. 19) yellowish brown; vertex laterally with a pair of suboblong black markings; frons usually with a brown spot anterior to median ocellus; postocular spine rather small and blunt. Compound eyes brown; ocelli yellow, medially margined black, lateral ocelli slightly separated from median ocellus with distance between them shorter than distance between antennal bases. Antennae black with scape and pedicel yellowish brown. Mouthparts yellowish brown; mandible with distal half black.

Prothorax (Fig. 19) yellowish brown; pronotum with two pairs of suboblong black markings near lateral margins. Meso- and metathorax yellow, each notum laterally with a pair of brownish markings. Thoracic pilosity pale yellow, longer on meso- and metathorax. Legs yellowish brown with short dense yellowish setae, tibiae and tarsi usually pale brown. Wings (Fig. 3) slightly smoky brown, with a few yellowish markings. Forewing slightly smoky brown, usually with four suboval markings along CuA from base to tip, and with an extremely small spot at distal 1/3; costal cellules with indistinct brownish stripes but slightly darker on proximal one or two cellules. Hindwing immaculate. Veins pale brown except for yellow veins on yellowish markings. Rs 7 to 8-branched; MA bifurcate; anterior branch of MP 4-branched, posterior branch of MP 2-branched; 6–8 crossveins between R and Rs.

Abdomen brown with yellow venter. Ninth tergum (Fig. 20) subquadrate, with arcuately incised anterior and truncate posterior margins. Ninth sternum (Fig. 21) subquadrate, much shorter than ninth tergum, posterior margin with broad shallow incision, forming a pair of short subtriangular posteroventral lobes. Ninth gonostylus (Fig. 22) unguiform and strongly curved dorsomedially. Ectoproct (Fig. 20–21) bifurcated proximally into dorsal and ventral lobes; dorsal lobe band-like, densely setose, ~1.5X as long as ninth tergum, bluntly tapering and curved ventromedially; ventral lobe subtriangular, ~0.3X as long as dorsal lobe, produced medially and bluntly tapering. Tenth gonocoxite (Fig. 23) narrowly arched, dorsomedial process moderately developed, ventromedial process small and paired; lateral lobes digitiform and densely setose on ventral surface.

Female. Body length 40–43 mm; forewing length 44–47 mm, hindwing length 38–41 mm.

Eighth gonocoxite (Figs. 24–25) subtrapezoidal in lateral view, posterior margin distinctly convex with a small median incision. Ninth segment laterally with a pair of ovoid lobes near anterolateral margin of ninth tergum (Fig. 24). Ninth gonocoxite (Fig. 24) valvate with a short digitiform gonostylus at tip. Ectoproct (Fig. 24) short, with posterior margin medially incised, leaving digitiform dorsal and thin ventral lobes in lateral view.

Type material. Holotype ♂, “[No locality data]/Saunders [collection]/10-maculatus W[alker]./10-maculatus Walk[er]/ Hermes decemmaculatus Walk [er]. ♂ D.E. Kimmins det. 1969 Holotype / Type ” (BMNH).

Other materials. INDIA: Meghalaya: 1♀, Shillong [25°34'N, 91°52'E], 13.VI.1928, F.C. Fraser (ISNB); 2♂ 3♀, Shillong, 20.V.-16.VI.1928, Fletcher coll. (BMNH); 2♂ 3♀, Khasi Hills [25°35'N, 91°38'E], ex coll. H. Fruhstorfer (MCZ); 4♂ 8♀, Khasi Hills (BMNH and RMNH); 1♀, Assam (BMNH); 1♀, Assam, W.F. Badgley (NHM); 1ex, N[orth].E[astern]. India (BMNH).

Distribution. India (Meghalaya).

Remarks. Protohermes decemmaculatus is a relatively common species of the P. changninganus group, apparently restricted to northeastern India.